Optical metronome

ABSTRACT

An optical metronome using a strip with musical staff thereon folded in zig-zag form moved past a lamp in accordance with the speed of the musical tempo. The notes therefor are viewed through a channel window as the strip moves from one triangularly shaped depository to another.

United States Patent [1 1 Del Qastillo 1 OPTICAL METRONOME [76]Inventor: Juan M. Del Castillo, Risco 119,

Mexico 20, DR, Mexico [22] Filed: Aug. 12, 1971 [21] App1.No.: 171,249

[52] US. Cl. 84/484 [51] Int. Cl. G101) 15/00 [58] Field of Search84/484, 483, 470,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1969 Keir 84/484 X 7/1882Damborg 84/483 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS France 40/100 [1113,743,758 51 July 3,1973

3/1952 France ..84/486 10/1950 France 84/483 Primary Examiner-Richard B.Wilkinson Assistant ExaminerJohn F. Gonzales Attorney-Karl W. Flocks [57] ABSTRACT An optical metronome using a strip with musical staffthereon folded in zig-zag form moved past a lamp in accordance with thespeed of the musical tempo. The notes therefor are viewed through achannel window as the strip moves from one triangularly shapeddepository to another.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENIEB Jill 3 I878 JUAN M. DEL CASTILLO BYKAR U fiocx ATTORNEY OPTICAL METRONOME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thepresent invention deals with apparatus to allow a pupil of the piano orother musical instrument to play the instrument with proper timedspacing between notes which are viewed as each note is to be played.

This function has been performed by metronomes which in the past haveindicated by sound a timing beat or by optical means passed from rollerto roller.

The present invention utilizes optical means with a simple device whichadditionally allows storing of the strips of musical selections inflattened condition in files in a manner unlike the rolls of presentdevices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is toprovide an optical metronome of very simple design.

A further object is to utilize musical score printed on a zig-zag stripto facilite storage of the strip in flattened condition in files.

A still further object of the present invention is to have the printedstrip with musical score thereon ready for reuse without the necessityof refolding or rewinding between uses. I

Basically the present device is an optical metronome having depositoriesat opposite ends of a channel with at least one window in the channeland motor driven rollers to move a zig-zag folded strip past the windowfor observation of the notes on a musical staff on said strip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above, as well as further objectsand advantages which are inherent in the invention, will become apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention with the stripwith a musical score thereon being started through the device;

FIG. 2 is a similar perspective view of the device with the strip at anintermediate position in the device; and

FIG. 3 is a top plan sectional view of the device of the presentinvention along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the figures thereis shown an optical metronome having depositories 11 and 12 connected toeach other by a channel 13. A strip 14 of paper or some similar foldablematerial is passed from one depository to the other, in the case shown,from depository 11 to depository 12.

The commencement of the feeding of the strip 14 from depository 11,which is done by manual means, is shown in FIG. 1. The strip 14 is fedto roller 16-17 which then continues the movement of strip 14 throughchannel 13 from depository 11 to depository 12 at a rate in accordancewith the tempo of the music and at the speed determined by motor 18driving roller 16 which speed is related to the spacing between notesprinted or otherwise marked on the musical staff on strip 14.

Channel 13 has openings therein, the first of which is shown closest todepository 11 and is to aid in starting the strip 14 therethrough, whichopening may be either on only one wall of channel 13 as shown or on bothwalls. Another opening is centered on channel 13 and has a verticalhairline l9 beneath which the note to be played passes at the time it isto be played by the observer of the optical metronome 10. To facilitatethe reading of the notes the center opening on the walls of the channel13 may be made on both walls of the channel and a lamp 2] may be mountedin housing 22 which housing is mounted on the back wall of channel 13.In this case which is illustrated in the figures the translucent qualityof strip 14 if such is of a thin paper or similar material, will aid inthe reading of the notes on the musical staff.

The rollers 16 and 17 are mounted on channel 13 so as to extend intochannel 13 and contact strip 14 on its back and front faces respectivelywith roller 16 driven by motor 18 and roller 17 acting in the capacityof an idler roller. The motor 18 may have its speed controlled byrheostat, gears, or other means so as to set the required speed offeedthrough of strip 14 in relation to the tempo of the music beingplayed and marked on the strip 14.

Depositories l1 and 12 are somewhat triangular in shape with their sidewalls approaching an apex of the triangle at each end of channel 13 inorder to facilitate both the feeding of strip 14 to channel 13 fromdepository 11 and the receiving of strip 14 into depository 12 fromchannel 13. Grooves 23 and 24 in the side walls fonning the bases of thetriangular forms of depositories 11 and 12 facilitate placing strip 14therein or its removal. A bottom of course, holds the strip 14 in thedepositories.

Although as stated above the depositories 11 and 12 have a somewhattriangular shape it should be noted that parallel wall portions 26-26and 27-27 are shown so that strip 14 which is folded in zig-zag fashionmay be held in each of the depositories 11 and 12. The parallel wallportions 26--26' and 27-27 should be long enough to accommodate thethickness when folded of the longest strip 14 that it is expected to usewith the optical metronome 10. In use, the strip 14 placed in depository11 in folded zig-zag fashion will be folded in this same manner whenremoved from depository 12 after use, ready to be used over againwithout refolding.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made without departing from the scope of the invention such asvariations in the means to move the strip through the channel. Thereforethe invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown in thedrawings and described in the specification.

What is claimed is:

1. An optical metronome comprising a zig-zag folded strip having musicalnotes deposited thereon,

first and second depositories to hold and receive said strip,

a channel connecting between said first and second depositories,

means to move said strip through said channel in relation to the tempoof the musical notes depicted thereon,

means to aid in viewing the notes on said strip,

said depositories having a substantially triangular shape with sidewalls converging toward openings in said channel,

said side walls positioned for guiding said strip into and out of saidchannel and having lengths measured from said openings in said channelsubstantially the width of a folded portion of said strip. 2. Theoptical metronome of claim 1, further characterized by said means tomove said strip through said channel including a pair of rollers mountedon said channel to receive said strip therebetween, motor means torotate one of said rollers at a speed related to the tempo of the musicdepicted on said Strip, the other of said roller acting as an idler. 3.The optical metronome of claim 1, further characterized by said means toaid in viewing the notes on said strip 4 including a window in saidchannel extending therethrough,

and

converging side walls.

1. An optical metronome comprising a zig-zag folded strip having musicalnotes deposited thereon, first and second depositories to hold andreceive said strip, a channel connecting between said first and seconddepositories, means to move said strip through said channel in relationto the tempo of the musical notes depicted thereon, means to aid inviewing the notes on said strip, said depositories having asubstantially triangular shape with side walls converging towardopenings in said channel, said side walls positioned for guiding saidstrip into and out of said channel and having lengths measured from saidopenings in said channel substantially the width of a folded portion ofsaid strip.
 2. The optical metronome of claim 1, further characterizedby said means to move said strip through said channel including a pairof rollers mounted on said channel to receive said strip therebetween,motor means to rotate one of said rollers at a speed related to thetempo of the music depicted on said strip, the other of said rollersacting as an idler.
 3. The optical metronome of claim 1, furthercharacterized by said means to aid in viewing the notes on said stripincluding a window in said channel extending therethrough, and lightingmeans mounted at said window at the side opposite from which the noteson said strip are viewed, to pass light through said strip.
 4. Theoptical metronome of claim 1, further characterized by each of saiddepositories having parallel wall portions extending from the outerportions of Said converging side walls having a length at least thethickness of said strip in zig-zag folded condition, said parallel wallportions connected by a wall at their opposite ends from theirattachment to said converging side walls.